Viraja Ramanujam
Grounded in Vedic tradition, Dhrupad is the oldest surviving form of Indian Classical music. An integral part of India’s cultural heritage, it traces its origin to the chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras. It is also a form of worship and is purely spiritual in nature, while incorporating the ancient practice of yoga. Dhrupad was originally sung in temples and later thrived under the patronage of Mughal and Rajput kings. With the pakhavaj and tanpura lending rhythm and shruti, this form of music does not seek to entertain the listener, but induces a sense of composure and contemplation.
Dhrupad music is said to impact a person’s lifestyle to a great extent. It follows the ‘vaachik parampara’ since music is completely un-written or oral and can only be learnt accurately and efficiently through training by a knowledgeable Guru.
Since the 1960s, Dhrupad has grown enormously in popularity internationally because of the richness and sophistication of its musical concepts, with its roots in Indian spiritual philosophy. The tradition is slowly making a comeback in India because of international hype. “Dhrupad music is always contemporary as it is created in the spur of the moment,” says Ramakant Gundecha, former student at Dhrupad Kendra, on being asked about the relevance of Dhrupad music in today’s age. According to Ashish Sankrityayan, life has become highly mechanized and the west has reached a point where there are no forms in art and culture. So, they are going back to the basics of music and sound, and Dhrupad examines these basic concepts in great detail and depth. “The ancient tradition of Dhrupad music has a bright future in India and will come back when Indians reach the peak of materialism, to a point of no-return. It is still not very popular since this form of music is uplifting, but not entertaining,” he feels.
The four-year intensive, fully residential training programme at Dhrupad Kendra aims to produce performing artists who will also promote Dhrupad and help in keeping the 2000-year old tradition intact and alive. This rigorous gurukul style training starts at 4 am every morning and requires its students to attend all the training and practice sessions. At the end of the programme, illustrious students will be awarded an advanced scholarship by the government or private foundations, for continued guidance, while being given the opportunity to hold small-scale concerts.
Dhrupad Kendra
The Dhrupad Kendra was established in Bhopal in 1981 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, for imparting Dhrupad training in the traditional ‘Guru-Shishya parampara’ or one-to-one teaching system, to students who aspire to become professional Dhrupad singers and teachers. This institute has contributed immensely to the pool of renowned practitioners of Dhrupad.
Admission at the Dhrupad Kendra
· Requires a very high level of motivation and dedication
· Demands basic knowledge of Indian Classical music, but raw talent is welcome
· Any citizen of India between the age of 14 and 30 having passed class 10 can apply
· 10 students per batch
· Financial support through a scholarship of Rs. 2000 per month
· Last date for applying: 28 July and the programme is scheduled to start in August
· For more details, visit: http://www.dhrupad.info/kendraapplication.htm
What’s New?
In the past, many students trained in Dhrupad Kendra have not been able to make a living out of the knowledge they acquired and ultimately gave up trying to build a career in this field. Ashish Sankrityayan, the new director of this institute and an internationally distinguished Dhrupad singer, has evolved a mechanism to promote these fresh artists and expose them to the international arena, while continuing to guide them in the field.
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